The Glendale neighborhood, which sits behind Old Walker Chapel Road between the Colonial Promenade shopping center and Highway 31, is expected to be rezoned from R-3 to B-2. (Courtesy of the City of Fultondale)

The Fultondale City Council heard a first reading on an ordinance
to rezone the area from R-3, multi-family district, to B-2, general business
district, during its meeting Monday.

The area includes a little more
than 200 acres that sit behind Old Walker Chapel Road, between the Colonial
Promenade shopping center and Highway 31. City leaders have said the property
is surrounded on businesses on all sides, and rezoning it for business is the
best use for the area. There are no businesses scheduled
to move into the area at this time, according to Fultondale Mayor Jim Lowery.

There are about 135 homes in the
neighborhood, and Lowery has said the rezoning will not have a major impact on
residents.

The city council set a public
hearing on the ordinance for the next council meeting Monday, Jan. 13, 2014 at 6
p.m. The council is expected to hear a second reading and pass the ordinance
during the meeting.